Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Beta 2 Now Available

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Beta 2 is now available for download. This download includes new features and enhancements make large-scale desktop and server deployments smoother than ever. For System Center Configuration Manager customers, MDT 2012 Beta 2 provides an improved, extensible wizard and designer for customizing deployment questions. MDT 2012 makes full use of the capabilities provided by System Center Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment.

MDT 2012 integrates with configuration templates from the Security Compliance Manager (SCM) tool to ensure a secure Windows installation from the beginning of the deployment. Download the latest version of MDT and improve your deployment experience. Existing MDT users will find more reliability and flexibility with the many small enhancements and bug fixes and a smooth and simple upgrade process.

Key Benefits:
MDT 2012 will offer:

• Fully leverages the capabilities provided by System Center Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment.
• Improved Lite Touch user experience and functionality.
• A smooth and simple upgrade process for all existing MDT users.

What's is new in MDT 2012?
The following is a list of a new features in MDT 2012:

• Support Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 OS deployment
  Integrate MDT 2012 Beta 2 into the Configuration Manager 2012 console. Update MDT task sequences to support ConfigMgr 2012. Add support for new ConfigMgr 2012 features.

• Add support for new operating systems
  Add support for Windows ThinPC and Windows POSReady 7.

• Support UEFI deployments
  Enable MDT to deploy operating systems to computers that use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS replacement.

• “Deploy to VHD” support
  New task sequence templates have been added to support deploying a Windows 7 image into a VHD that is then configured so that the computer will boot from the VHD.

• Improve partitioning logic
  Deploy Windows using the Windows AIK-recommended partitioning schemes, while ensuring that any existing scheme continues to work as expected.

• Wizard look-and-feel enhancements
  Update the Lite Touch wizards to provide an improved appearance.

• Improve user state migration logic
  Enhance the user state migration process to provide additional flexibility.

Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Beta 2:
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Beta 2 is now available for testing. You can download the Beta 2 version of MDT 2012 from Microsoft Connect website. (Windows Live ID required)

Note: MDT 2012 Beta 2 runs through January 2012.

Source: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit